USER MANUAL SONIC ™
© 2000 Sonic Solutions. All rights reserved. DVDit! User Manual — Sonic Part Number 800150 Rev C (06/00) This manual, as well as the software described in it, is furnished under license and may only be used or copied in accordance with the terms of such license. The information in this manual is furnished for informational use only, is subject to change without notice, and should not be construed as a commitment by Sonic Solutions.
Contents The Big Picture An Introduction to DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v How DVDit! Works. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi What’s New in DVDit! 2.0? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii About This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x DVDit! SE and PE Versions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ii Contents Exploring DVDit! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The Palette Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The Video Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 The Remote Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Changing the DVDit! Application Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Contents Working With Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Creating Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Adding a Soundtrack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Using the Timeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Adding Chapter Points. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
iv Contents Index
The Big Picture Video technology has changed dramatically in the last five years. The cost of creating great-looking video has come down to levels that any videographer — professional or enthusiast — can afford. Whereas tape used to be the format on which to view and distribute video material, the digital versatile disc — DVD — has now become a standard way for video facilities to create and show content.
vi The Big Picture How DVDit! Works DVDit! is incredibly easy to use. To create (or author) a DVD, first prepare the content — video, audio, and graphics — using common video and graphics applications. Then, export the result as files that you can import into DVDit! After importing the files into DVDit!, you start assembling the project. DVDs basically consist of video and audio clips that are linked together using menus.
What’s New in DVDit! 2.0? What’s New in DVDit! 2.0? DVDit! 2.0 offers a wide array of new and enhanced features, including: General • Windows 2000 support. • Keyboard shortcuts for many actions (see “DVDit!’s Keyboard Shortcuts” on page 16 for a full list). • Cut, copy, and paste of menus, movies, buttons and text. • Multiple levels of undo and redo. • Greatly enhanced navigation control for menus and movies, including looping of video segments. • DVD-ROM support.
viii The Big Picture • Support for digital linear tape (DLT). You can create master tapes for mass replication of DVDs. • Projects can have up to 99 menus. Video Monitor • Movies. A movie is a combination of a video clip or still image, an optional audio clip, and instructions that tell the DVD player what to do when the movie finishes or the viewer presses the remote control buttons. • Chapter points. You can now add chapter points to a movie and link those chapter points to menu buttons.
What’s New in DVDit! 2.0? Palette Window • More information on each item listed in the Palette window. DVDit! now shows the type and size for each item. • Support for more file types, including QuickTime movies, Dolby Digital audio (PE version only), and Photoshop graphics. • Support for Photoshop layers and transparency. When you import a Photoshop file, each layer becomes a separate item in DVDit!’s Palette window.
x The Big Picture About This Guide This guide comprises: • Getting Started — installation and setup instructions, and an introduction to the main components of DVDit! • Importing Files — importing video, audio and graphics files into DVDit! and organizing these files. • Creating a Project — authoring a project using DVDit! • Creating a DVD — building a DVD from a project.
Other Information Other Information Preparing Files for DVDit! We recommend that you read the online document Preparing Files for DVDit! (Preparing files (Eng).pdf). It describes how to create video, audio, and graphics files for DVDit! projects. If you have problems importing or using files, check that the files meet the requirements specified in this document. (You can find a copy in the Documentation folder on the DVDit! Installer CD-ROM and in the DVDit! folder on your PC).
xii The Big Picture Your notes
1 Getting Started This chapter covers getting started with DVDit!, including: • Installation • Launching DVDit! • Creating, opening, and saving DVDit! projects • The Palette window • The Video Monitor • The Remote Control • Changing the DVDit! application language • Registering DVDit! • DVDit!’s keyboard shortcuts
2 Getting Started Installing DVDit! Minimum System Requirements • Windows 98, Windows NT 4 with Service Pack 5, or Windows 2000 • Microsoft DirectShow 6.4 (installed as part of Windows Media Player) • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.
Installing DVDit! 4 When the installer finishes, remove the Installer CD-ROM. To remove DVDit! from your PC 1 Close all programs. 2 Click the Windows Start button, then choose Settings > Control Panel. 3 Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon. 4 Click DVDit!, then click Add/Remove. 5 Follow the instructions on the screen. Note: The uninstaller removes only the DVDit! application files. It does not delete any imported media files, project files, or DVD builds in the DVDit folder.
4 Getting Started Launching DVDit! There are two ways to launch DVDit! Either: • Double-click the DVDit! icon on your desktop or • Click the Windows Start button, then choose Programs > DVDit > DVDit Creating, Opening and Saving DVDit! Projects To start a new project 1 Launch DVDit! After the splash screen displays, you see the Project Planner, which is the starting point for all new DVDit! projects: Click Start A New Project or press the Enter key You can also open the Project Planner by choosing Fil
Launching DVDit! 2 Select the project settings: Choose the video standard Choose the MPEG format Click Finish (Next in DVDit! PE) or press the Enter key These two settings determine which MPEG video files you can import into DVDit! For example, if you choose NTSC and MPEG-2, you can import MPEG-2 format NTSC video, but you cannot import or use any MPEG-1 or PAL video. (You can import and use AVI and QuickTime files on either setting.
6 Getting Started Again, this setting determines which MPEG video files you can use: if you select 4:3, you can import only 4:3 aspect ratio MPEG files; and if you select 16:9, you can import only 16:9 anamorphic MPEG-2 files. (You can import AVI and QuickTime files on either setting; DVDit! marks them as 4:3 or 16:9 when you create the final DVD). See “Working With Widescreen Video (PE only)” on page 82 for more information. To save the project 1 Choose File > Save (or press Ctrl+S).
Exploring DVDit! Exploring DVDit! The picture below shows the main workspace where you create DVD Video presentations: DVDit! menu bar Menu/Movie placeholder First Play Palette window Video monitor Palette window buttons Movie timeline Menu/Movie list Menu/Movie button Timecode window 7
8 Getting Started The Palette Window The Palette window lets you browse through your imported video, audio, images, and text, and select individual items for use in a project.
Exploring DVDit! The Video Monitor The Video Monitor contains the main window, the movie timeline, and the menu/movie list: Main window “First Play” The selected menu (or movie) is shown in the main window Placeholders. Use these to create menus or movies Menu/movie list Menu/Movie button Movie timeline Speaker icon indicates that the selected menu has a soundtrack Timecode window The main window is where you construct DVD menus, preview media clips, and play back the completed project.
10 Getting Started Menu/Movie List The menu/movie list contains placeholders. These are containers for creating menus and movies. First Play (In these examples, Movie 1 is the First Play) Menu list Movie list Menu placeholders Drag the slider up and down to scroll up and down the list Movie placeholders To switch between menus and movies, click the Menu/Movie button A menu contains a background and one or more buttons that link to different movies.
Exploring DVDit! First Play Placeholder The First Play placeholder indicates which menu or movie will start playing automatically when the finished disc is inserted into a DVD player. See “Creating the First Play” on page 36 for more information. Timeline The timeline lets you play back movies and add chapter points: Click here to choose different movies Chapter point label Playhead. Indicates the position of the current movie frame Timecode/Chapter point button Zoom buttons Start button.
12 Getting Started The Remote Control The Remote Control appears when you click the Preview button at the bottom of the Palette window. Use it to test how the project will behave in a DVD player (see “Previewing the Project” on page 80 for details). Menu — performs the action specified in the Movie Properties dialog Counter window.
Exploring DVDit! Counter Window Shows the playback state: Shows what is currently displayed: video, still, or menu = playing ❙ ❙ = paused Shows which chapter is playing, or which menu button is selected ■ = stopped = fast forwarding = rewinding Shows the length of time that the video, still, or menu has been playing, in hours:minutes:seconds Shows the type of audio: PCM, MPEG, or Dolby Digital (PE version only) 13
14 Getting Started Changing the DVDit! Application Language DVDit! lets you change the application language, which means that DVDit!’s menus, dialog boxes, and buttons are displayed in a different language (English, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, or Traditional Chinese). To change the application language 1 Choose Edit > Options. The Options window appears: Choose a new Language Click OK After you click OK, DVDit! restarts automatically.
Registering DVDit! Registering DVDit! It’s a good idea to register DVDit! Registration gives you access to special offers, upgrades, and extra artwork on the DVDit! web site. You can register at any time while DVDit! is running. To register DVDit! 1 Choose Help > Register. 2 Follow the instructions on the screen. Note: DVDit! gives you several ways to register. The quickest way is by using the Internet. You can also print a registration form for mailing or faxing.
16 Getting Started DVDit!’s Keyboard Shortcuts General Shortcuts Action Keyboard shortcut Exit DVDit! Alt+F4 Ctrl+Q Save project Ctrl+S Save project as...
DVDit!’s Keyboard Shortcuts Remote Control Remote Control button Keyboard shortcut Arrows Left, right, up, and down arrow keys Play/Pause Space bar Previous Ctrl+left arrow Next Ctrl+right arrow Rewind Alt+left arrow Fast Forward Alt+right arrow Menu Esc 17
18 Getting Started Your notes
2 Importing Files To create a DVD Video project, you need graphics, video, audio, and text. This chapter explains how to import files into DVDit!, and how to organize these imported files into themes.
20 Importing Files Supported File Formats Audio and video • Audio Visual Interleave (.avi) • MPEG-1 video (.m1p, .m1v, .mp1, .mpg, .mpeg, .mpv) • MPEG-2 video (.m2p, .m2v, .mp2, .mpg, .mpeg, .mpv) • MPEG-1 Layer II audio (.abs, .mpa) • QuickTime (.mov, .qt) • WAVE Audio for Windows (.wav) • (PE only) Dolby Digital (.ac3) Graphics (for backgrounds, buttons and still images) • Windows or OS/2 Bitmap (.bmp, .rle) • JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg) • Macintosh PICT (.pct, .pic) • Photoshop (.
Working With Themes Working With Themes Before you import files into DVDit!, you need to understand a little bit about themes. What are Themes? Themes are DVDit!’s way of managing different kinds of media. Each theme is a separate collection of images, video, and audio. DVDit! comes with several builtin themes, and you can order more from the DVDit! web site (http://dvdit.com). You can import images, video and audio into the built-in themes; you can also create your own themes.
22 Importing Files Before you import a file, you must open the theme where you want it to be listed. (And for images, you must also decide whether to put the image in the Backgrounds, Buttons, or Media list — video and audio files always go into the Media list.) DVDit! always imports files into the theme that is currently open. The Palette window also has a Text button. When you click this button, the window lists all the fonts installed on your PC.
Working With Themes Using Themes To open an existing theme 1 Choose Theme > Open Theme in the Palette window’s menu bar. The Select Theme dialog appears: Click to select a theme Click OK This opens a new set of backgrounds, buttons, and media clips. To create a new theme 1 Choose Theme > New Theme in the Palette window’s menu bar.
24 Importing Files Tip: Try to keep your theme names short and meaningful. Only about 10 characters of the name will appear at the top of the Palette window. The new theme contains no video, audio, or image files, so no thumbnails appear in the Palette window. To add files to this new theme, see “Importing Files into Themes” on page 25.
Importing Files into Themes Importing Files into Themes DVDit! makes it simple to import files. You can select files from a dialog in DVDit!, or drag files from Windows Explorer into DVDit!’s Palette window. These two methods create shortcuts, which are links from DVDit! to the files. The files can be stored on any connected disk. This means you can add the same file to several themes without using up any more disk space.
26 Importing Files To drag files into DVDit!: 1 In DVDit!’s Palette window, open the theme where you want the files to go (for example, choose Theme > Default to import files into the Default theme). 2 At the bottom of the Palette window, click the button for the kind of media you are importing (for example, click the Media button if you are importing video or audio files). 3 Launch Windows Explorer (click the Windows Start button and choose Programs > Windows Explorer).
Importing Files into Themes Moving Files into DVDit! To import real files into DVDit! instead of creating shortcuts, you must move files into special folders within DVDit! When you create a new theme, DVDit! creates a folder in Windows labeled with the theme name. Within that folder, DVDit! creates three subfolders — labeled Backgrounds, Buttons, and Media — where it stores the shortcut links to files.
28 Importing Files To move a file into a Theme folder 1 Exit DVDit! if it is running. 2 Launch Windows Explorer (click the Start button and choose Programs > Windows Explorer) and navigate to the file’s location. 3 Right-click on the file and choose Copy or Cut from the pop-up menu (choose Cut only if disk space is limited). 4 Navigate to the DVDit! theme folder where you want to place the file. For example, navigate to the ..
Previewing Video, Audio, and Still Images Previewing Video, Audio, and Still Images You can play back any imported file within DVDit! To play a file 1 Right-click on the thumbnail in the Palette window and choose Play from the popup menu. • If the file is a video clip, the video plays in the Video Monitor’s main window: Click and drag the playhead to pause, fast-forward or rewind the video • If the file is an audio clip, you hear the audio through your PC’s speakers.
30 Importing Files Deleting Files When you no longer need a file, it is easy to delete. To delete a file from DVDit! 1 Right-click on the thumbnail in the Palette window, then choose Delete from the pop-up menu. • If the selected file is a shortcut, DVDit! asks if you want to delete both the shortcut and the source file, or just the shortcut. Click Yes to delete both files, or click No (or press Enter) to delete only the shortcut. Click Cancel to leave the file in the list.
3 Creating a Project This chapter guides you through creating a new project with DVDit!, including: • What is a project? • Creating the First Play • Working with movies — creating movies, adding sound, adding chapter points, and playing the movie • Working with menus — creating menus, adding sound and buttons, linking movies and menus to buttons, changing colors, and other effects • Previewing the DVD Video presentation • Working with widescreen (16:9 anamorphic) projects (PE only) Before you begin a projec
32 Creating a Project What is a Project? DVD Video and DVD-ROM A DVDit! project contains the video, audio, and navigation instructions that make up a DVD Video presentation. A project can also include DVD-ROM data files for use on a computer. (You add the DVD-ROM files by selecting them in the Project Settings dialog — see “Finishing the Project” on page 87 for details.
What is a Project? 3 Create menus: A menu contains a background image and at least one button that links to a movie, or a chapter point, or another menu. You can also add a soundtrack that plays while the menu is displayed. DVDit! SE lets you create up to 10 menus in a single project (up to 99 menus in DVDit! PE), and each menu can have up to 36 buttons. 4 Link the menu buttons to the movies and to other menus.
34 Creating a Project Examples of DVDit! Projects These examples show how you can use DVDit! to create basic DVD presentations. You can create far more elaborate presentations rapidly and easily from these simple beginnings. Single movie (with chapter points) Movie 1 timeline Chapter point First Play End (disc stops) Chapter point This is a very basic project with no menus and just a single movie.
What is a Project? Single menu and multiple movies Menu 1 Movie 1 Button Button Button Button Movie 2 Movie 3 Movie 4 First Play This project has a menu in the First Play placeholder, with buttons that link to four movies. When a viewer inserts this disc into the player, the menu displays until the viewer activates a menu button; then the movie linked to that button starts playing. When the movie finishes, the menu is displayed again.
36 Creating a Project Creating the First Play The First Play is an instruction that tells the DVD player to display a particular movie or menu automatically when the disc is inserted. You create the First Play by dragging a video, still, or menu background into the placeholder above the movie/menu list. This placeholder does not contain a movie or menu; it simply indicates which movie or menu is the First Play, rather like an alias or shortcut to a file in Windows.
Creating the First Play If you drag a background onto the First Play, DVDit! creates a new menu labeled “Menu 1” in the menu list. If you drag a video or still image, DVDit! creates a new movie labeled “Movie 1” in the movie list (you may need to switch to the movie list to see it — click the button at the bottom of the movie/menu list to choose Movies). This is the real menu or movie; the First Play just shows a copy of its thumbnail.
38 Creating a Project To change the First Play 1 Drag a different menu or movie placeholder onto the First Play placeholder: This example shows Movie 2 being dragged onto the First Play The First Play shows the new menu/movie’s thumbnail and its label changes to the new menu/movie’s label. To change the First Play contents (for example, to change the menu background to a different background), simply drag a new thumbnail of the same type onto the First Play placeholder.
Working With Movies Working With Movies A movie contains a video clip or still image, an optional audio clip, and instructions that tell the DVD player how long to display the movie, what to do when the movie finishes, and what to do if the viewer presses different remote control buttons while the movie is playing. A DVD Video project must contain at least one movie. If the movie contains a video clip, you can also add chapter points; these let the viewer jump to specific locations in the video.
40 Creating a Project The thumbnail appears in the placeholder. Now you can add sound and chapter points, and link the movie to a menu. To create a new movie by creating a button link 1 Display the menu list (click the button at the bottom of the movie/menu list to choose Menus). 2 Click the placeholder containing the menu where you want to create the button link. The menu appears in the main window.
Working With Movies You can see the new movie by clicking the movie/menu button to choose Movies. To change the movie contents 1 Drag a video or image thumbnail from the Media list onto the movie placeholder. For example, to change the video, drag a different video thumbnail onto the placeholder. To change the movie placeholder label DVDit! always gives each placeholder the name “Movie x”, where x is a sequential number. You can change this to something that describes the movie.
42 Creating a Project To create a copy of the movie 1 Click the movie placeholder to select it. 2 Choose Edit > Copy (or press Ctrl+C). 3 Choose Edit > Paste (or press Ctrl+V). DVDit! creates a new movie placeholder in the movie list and pastes the copied movie into it. To delete a movie 1 Click the movie placeholder to select it. 2 Press the Delete key. DVDit! asks if you are sure you want to delete the movie. 3 Click Yes. The placeholder disappears from the list.
Working With Movies Adding a Soundtrack To add a soundtrack to a movie 1 Drag an audio thumbnail from the Media list onto the movie placeholder: You can also add a soundtrack to a movie by linking an audio clip to the same menu button as the movie — see “To add audio to a movie” on page 68 for details. To change the soundtrack 1 Drag a different audio thumbnail onto the movie placeholder.
44 Creating a Project Using the Timeline To select a movie Either: • Click the movie placeholder in the movie list or • Click the label above the timeline and choose the movie from the drop-down list: When you select a movie, it remains in the timeline until you select a different one. You can now switch to the menu list and link the selected movie to buttons in a menu — see “Creating Button Links” on page 66 for details.
Working With Movies To play the selected movie 1 Click the Start button. The movie plays in the main window: 2 To pause the movie, click the Start button again. To scroll through the movie 1 Click and drag the playhead along the timeline. As you move the playhead, the movie scrolls forward or backward in the main window.
46 Creating a Project To begin playback at a specific point in the movie 1 In the Timecode window, enter the timecode where you want playback to start: The timecode window displays hours:minutes:seconds:frames 2 Press Enter. The playhead moves to the specified frame, which is displayed in the main window. 3 Click the Start button to begin playback from this point. You can also begin playback at a particular chapter point; see “To play back the movie from a chapter point” on page 50 for details.
Working With Movies Adding Chapter Points Once you have selected a movie (see “To select a movie” on page 44), you can add chapter points. Chapter points have two main purposes: they let the viewer jump to different scenes (chapters) in a movie using the remote control buttons; and they let you create scene selection menus, with buttons that link to different chapter points.
48 Creating a Project To add a chapter point at the playhead location 1 Right-click anywhere on the timeline and choose Insert Chapter from the pop-up menu. The new chapter point appears at the playhead location. To add a chapter point at a specific location 1 Click the Timecode T button. It changes to a C. 2 Enter the timecode where you want to add the chapter point and press Enter: Use the timecode format hours:minutes:seconds:frames The new chapter point appears at the location you entered.
Working With Movies To move a chapter point • Hold down the Ctrl key as you drag the chapter point along the timeline to a new location or • Click the chapter point to select it, then press the left or right arrow key to nudge the chapter point to the previous/next complete frame or • Select the chapter point, then hold down Shift and press the arrow keys to nudge the chapter point in one-second increments Note: You cannot move the first chapter point.
50 Creating a Project To play back the movie from a chapter point 1 Click the chapter point where you want playback to start. The playhead moves to that location. 2 Click the Start button. To delete a chapter point 1 Right-click on the chapter point and choose Delete from the pop-up menu: The chapter point disappears.
Working With Menus Working With Menus A menu is a screen with buttons that let the DVD viewer jump to the movies and other menus on the DVD. A menu must contain a background image and at least one button link to a movie or another menu. You can also add text to the menu to label or explain the buttons. To build a menu, you choose a background, add buttons and text, then link the buttons to movies and other menus. Buttons can be a graphic object, a text object, or even a movie/menu thumbnail.
52 Creating a Project 2 Drag a thumbnail from the Backgrounds list onto the empty placeholder: The thumbnail appears in the placeholder and the full image appears in the Video Monitor’s main window. Now you must add buttons and links to build the menu. To change the menu background 1 Drag a new background thumbnail onto the menu placeholder. To create a copy of the menu 1 Click the menu placeholder to select it. 2 Choose Edit > Copy (or press Ctrl+C). 3 Choose Edit > Paste (or press Ctrl+V).
Working With Menus To change the menu placeholder label DVDit! always gives each placeholder the name “Menu x”, where x is a sequential number. You can change this name to something that indicates the placeholder contents. 1 Click the label on the placeholder you want to rename (the name becomes highlighted). 2 Type a new name and press the Enter key: Note: If the First Play references this menu, the First Play placeholder’s label also changes to the new name.
54 Creating a Project To rearrange the menus in the menu list 1 Drag the menu you want to move to another position in the list: (This example shows Menu 2 being moved between Menu 4 and Menu 5) The menu moves to the new position. To delete a menu 1 Click the menu placeholder to select it, then press the Delete key. 2 DVDit! asks if you are sure you want to delete the menu. Click Yes. The menu placeholder disappears from the list.
Working With Menus Adding a Soundtrack To add a soundtrack to the menu 1 Drag an audio thumbnail from the Media list onto the menu placeholder: This soundtrack will loop while the menu is displayed.
56 Creating a Project To change the menu soundtrack 1 Drag a different audio thumbnail onto the menu placeholder. To remove the soundtrack from a menu 1 Click the menu placeholder. The menu appears in the main window. 2 Right-click on the menu background and choose Clear Audio from the pop-up menu. Adding Buttons and Text A menu can have up to 36 button links to movies and other menus. You can build each button out of multiple graphic and text objects.
Working With Menus To add a button graphic to the menu 1 Drag a thumbnail from the Buttons list onto the menu background: The button appears on top of the menu background To create a button from a video or still image 1 Drag a still image or video thumbnail from the Palette window’s Media list onto the menu background. DVDit! creates a rectangular button with the thumbnail superimposed on it. This button is linked to a new movie that DVDit! creates automatically in the movie list.
58 Creating a Project To create a button from a movie or chapter point 1 Select the movie from the list above the timeline’s Start button. 2 Drag a chapter point up onto the menu background: (Dragging the first chapter point creates a link to the entire movie) DVDit! creates a rectangular button from the frame at the chapter point location. This button is linked to the chapter point.
Working With Menus To change the frame displayed on a button If you created a button by dragging a movie or chapter point onto a menu background, you can change the frame that appears on the button. 1 Click the button to select it. The timeline shows which chapter point is linked to the button, and the position of the frame that appears on the button.
60 Creating a Project To create a button from another menu 1 Make sure the menu where you want to place the button is displayed in the Video Monitor’s main window. 2 Drag another menu’s placeholder from the menu list onto the menu background: In this example, dragging Menu 2 onto Menu 1’s background creates a button that links to Menu 2 DVDit! creates a rectangular button with the other menu’s thumbnail superimposed on it. This button is linked to the other menu.
Working With Menus To add text to the menu 1 Drag a font name from the Text list onto the menu background: The word “Text” appears in the font that you chose 2 Double-click the word “Text” (it becomes highlighted). Type anything you want, such as a name for a button. To stop editing, click on the main window outside the text. 3 Move the text as needed. For example, if this is a button label, drag the text over the button.
62 Creating a Project Editing and Arranging Menu Objects You can select, move, and change the size of any button or text object in the Video Monitor’s main window. You can also cut, copy and paste these objects into any menu. The “Safe” Area TVs are designed to project images that are larger than the physical screen (this is called “overscanning”). This ensures that the image fills the whole screen, but it also means that the outside edges of the image are cropped.
Working With Menus To select buttons and text 1 Click a button or text object to select it. A frame with red handles appears around the object: 2 To select more than one object, hold down the Ctrl key and click each object. 3 To deselect a selected object, just Ctrl-click it again. You can resize, delete, cut, copy, and paste the selected objects. You can also change their color and other properties; see “Special Effects” on page 72 for details.
64 Creating a Project To resize menu objects After selecting an object, click and drag any of the nine handles to change its size: Resize diagonally Resize vertically Resize horizontally Resize in all directions • By click-dragging the center handle, you resize in all directions while keeping the object centered on the same point. Dragging up and to the left makes the object smaller; dragging down and to the right makes it larger.
Working With Menus To cut, copy and paste selected menu objects 1 Choose Edit > Cut (press Ctrl+X) or Edit > Copy (press Ctrl+C). You can also right-click on a selected object and choose Cut or Copy from the pop-up menu. 2 To paste the object(s) in the current menu, choose Edit > Paste (press Ctrl+V). You can also right-click on the menu and choose Paste from the pop-up menu. 3 To paste the object(s) into a different menu, click the menu placeholder in the menu list, then choose Edit > Paste.
66 Creating a Project Creating Button Links After laying out a menu, you can link movies and other menus to the buttons. Note: If you created a button by dragging a video, image, movie, chapter point, or another menu directly onto the menu background, the button link has already been made.
Working With Menus To link a movie or chapter point to a button or text object 1 Select the movie from the list above the timeline’s Start button. 2 Drag a chapter point onto the button or text object in the main window: If you drag the first chapter point, DVDit! links the whole movie to the button. If you drag any other chapter point, DVDit! links that chapter point to the button.
68 Creating a Project To add audio to a movie 1 Drag an audio thumbnail onto a button that is already linked to movie: To link another menu to a button in the current menu 1 Make sure the menu containing the button where you want to create the link is displayed in the main window.
Working With Menus 2 Drag the other menu’s placeholder from the menu list onto the button: This creates a link to the other menu. When the viewer selects the button, the DVD player will display the linked menu. You can also use this method to link a button to the First Play. Simply drag the First Play placeholder to the button or text to create the link.
70 Creating a Project To check the button links 1 If you’re not sure which buttons have links, right-click on the main window and choose Show Button Links from the pop-up menu: Each box lists the movie (or menu) that is linked to the button or text object 2 To see the buttons again, right-click on the main window and choose Hide Button Links. To delete a button link 1 Right-click on the button and choose Clear Movie or Clear Menu from the pop-up menu.
Working With Menus Button Highlights Whenever a viewer selects a button in a menu created by DVDit!, the button highlights to show that it is selected. For example: Unselected button Selected button To see how the button links will look, play back the project as described in “Previewing the Project” on page 80.
72 Creating a Project Special Effects Changing the Menu Colors DVDit! lets you change the color of any part of the menu, including buttons, text, and backgrounds. You can change individual items or all items at once. To change the menu colors 1 If you want to change certain button or text objects only, select the object(s). 2 Choose Effects > Adjust Color to open the Color Adjustment window.
Working With Menus 4 Change the color settings: Drag the sliders to adjust the hue, saturation and brightness This window shows the effect of your changes Select Save Settings to keep these settings for the next time you open the Color Adjustment window (If you chose Selected menu items from the Apply To list, this window does not appear; instead, the changes are shown in the main window Click OK If you selected Save Settings, the Color Adjustment window will default to the saved settings the next t
74 Creating a Project Changing the Drop Shadow Effect By default, DVDit! adds a drop-shadow effect to every object you add to a menu. You can change this effect for individual items or for the whole menu. To change the drop shadow effect 1 If you want to change the shadow effect for certain buttons or text objects only, select the object(s). 2 Choose Effects > Drop Shadow to open the Drop Shadow window.
Working With Menus If you selected Save Settings, the Drop Shadow window will default to the saved settings the next time you open it. You can use this feature to apply the same effect to multiple objects, or multiple menus.
76 Creating a Project Changing Text Properties DVDit! lets you change the color, font, language, size and style of any text object. To change the text properties 1 Select the text object(s) you want to change. 2 Choose Effects > Text Properties to open the Text Properties window. 3 Change the text properties.
Changing Movie and Menu Properties Changing Movie and Menu Properties The Movie Properties and Menu Properties dialogs let you add instructions to individual movies or menus that control how they are displayed. For example, you can loop a particular movie, or set a default button on a menu. These dialogs give you a high degree of control over individual elements of your presentation.
78 Creating a Project 2 Change the Movie Properties: You can change the movie label here For stills, enter the Duration that the image will be displayed (in hours:minutes:seconds:frames)... ...
Changing Movie and Menu Properties To change the menu properties 1 Right-click on the menu placeholder and choose Properties from the pop-up menu. 2 Change the Menu Properties: You can change the menu label here Either enter the Duration that the menu will be displayed (in hours:minutes:seconds:frames)... ...
80 Creating a Project Previewing the Project While you are creating a presentation, you need to check that everything works the way you want. Using DVDit!’s playback mode, you can preview the audio and video, and activate buttons to test their links. To play the project 1 Click the Preview button at the bottom of the Palette window.
Previewing the Project 3 When a video is playing, click the Next and Previous buttons to jump from one chapter to another.
82 Creating a Project Working With Widescreen Video (PE only) Creating a widescreen (16:9 anamorphic) project is much the same as creating a normal 4:3 project. DVDit! displays video and stills in letterbox format on the Video Monitor’s main window, and you create menus and links just as you do normally. Menus are displayed in 4:3 format, both in DVDit! and in the finished presentation. (On a widescreen TV, menus will have letterbox mattes at the left and right sides.
4 Creating a DVD You’ve created a DVD Video presentation, and you’re satisfied with the placement of the graphics, the links, and the overall look and feel. It’s time to output the project in a format that you can distribute to other people.
84 Creating a DVD DVDit!’s Output Formats DVDit! lets you create DVD discs, DVD volumes, and DVD masters: DVD Disc This refers to a recordable (DVD-R or CD-R) disc: • DVD-R discs work with any set-top or PC based DVD player. The discs can contain up to two hours of high-quality video • CD-R discs work only with a PC based DVD player, and contain about 15–20 minutes of high-quality video.
DVDit!’s Output Formats DVD Volume A DVD volume is a folder containing files for the video, audio and navigation information required by the DVD player, as well as any DVD-ROM data files. You can create a DVD volume on any computer media (for example, on your hard disk), and play the files using a PC based DVD player.
86 Creating a DVD Multiple File Systems on a Disc All DVD discs contain at least two file systems: the universal disc format (UDF) file system and the ISO 9660 file system. Among other things, these file systems define how a DVD-ROM file name appears when viewed on a computer. The UDF file system allows file names of up to 255 Unicode characters, which can include accented characters and Asian characters. All modern computer operating systems read the UDF file system.
Finishing the Project Finishing the Project The last step before you create the DVD is to specify the disc type, size and name. You do this using the Project Settings dialog. The Project Settings dialog also lets you choose the encoding quality and/or add a DVD-ROM section to the disc: • If a project contains AVI or QuickTime files, DVDit! must convert (encode) the files into MPEG format; this involves choosing a video encoding bit-rate so that the files fit the specified disc size.
88 Creating a DVD 2 Choose the Project settings: Choose the output disc size: CD-R (650 MB), DVD-R (3.95 GB), DVD-R (4.7 GB), or Other (enter the size in MB) After changing any setting, click Update to see how the change affects the project size Enter a Name for the disc, if desired To add DVD-ROM files to the project, select Include ROM Data... ...
Finishing the Project 3 To change the video encoding bit-rate manually, click the Video tab: Click to set the video bit-rate manually Either enter a Bit-rate value... ...or drag the video quality slider A higher bit-rate means higher-quality video You cannot set the bitrate to a high value if it means the project will not fit on the disc. DVDit! greys out the quality bar where the bit-rate is too high (You can also go directly to the Video settings by choosing Build > Video Settings.
90 Creating a DVD 4 (PE only) To change the audio encoding settings, click the Audio tab: Click to choose either PCM or Dolby Digital audio Dolby Digital is best for most applications.
Creating a DVD-R or CD-R Disc Creating a DVD-R or CD-R Disc Note: Make sure the DVD-R or CD-R recorder is connected to your PC and powered on before you follow these steps. To create a DVD-R or CD-R disc 1 Insert a blank disc in the recorder and choose Build > Make DVD Disc. 2 If the project does not fit the disc size specified in the Project Settings dialog, or it contains AVI or QuickTime files, DVDit! asks whether you want to change the settings, accept the existing settings, or edit the project.
92 Creating a DVD 3 The Make a DVD Disc window appears. Select the General settings: Choose the Source for the DVD disc (see “Source Options” on page 85 for details) Choose your DVD or CD Recorder from the drop-down list... ...
Creating a DVD-R or CD-R Disc 4 Click the Advanced tab to select more options: Deselect Joliet if the project does not contain any DVD-ROM files Deselect Use long file names (ISO 9660) if you want the DVD-ROM files to be usable on MS-DOS computers See “Multiple File Systems on a Disc” on page 86 for more information Select Use Windows Temporary Directory to make DVDit! use the C:\TEMP folder for temporary files, or deselect this option and click Browse to choose a different folder (for example, on a dif
94 Creating a DVD Creating a DVD Volume To create a DVD volume on a hard disk 1 Choose Build > Make DVD folder. 2 If the project does not fit the disc size specified in the Project Settings dialog, or it contains AVI or QuickTime files, DVDit! asks whether you want to change the settings, accept the existing settings, or edit the project. Choose Convert files using current settings to continue. (See “Finishing the Project” on page 87 for details on changing the project settings.
Creating a DVD Volume 4 Click the Advanced tab to select more options: Deselect these options if you do not want DVDit! to create temporary files before writing them to the DVD volume folder Select Use Windows Temporary Directory to make DVDit! use the C:\TEMP folder for temporary files, or deselect this option and click Browse to choose a different folder (for example, on a different hard disk) To reset these settings, click Defaults 5 Click OK.
96 Creating a DVD The DVD volume file/folder structure looks like this in Windows Explorer: The top level of the DVD volume structure.
Creating a DVD Volume To play the DVD volume using other DVD players Software DVD players are designed to emulate a set-top player. They play DVD discs the same way that a set-top player does. However, different players behave in different ways when asked to play a DVD volume on a hard disk. Some software players can play only DVD discs; they cannot play DVD video from a CD-R or hard disk. Other players behave differently depending on the PC on which they are installed.
98 Creating a DVD Creating a DVD Master Tape (PE only) Note: Make sure the DLT drive is connected to your PC and powered on before you follow these steps. To create a DVD master tape 1 Insert the tape in the DLT drive and choose Build > Make DVD Master. 2 If the project does not fit the disc size specified in the Project Settings dialog, or it contains AVI or QuickTime files, DVDit! asks whether you want to change the settings, accept the existing settings, or edit the project.
Creating a DVD Master Tape (PE only) 3 The Make a DVD Master window appears.
100 Creating a DVD 4 Click the Advanced tab to select more options: Deselect Joliet if the project does not contain any DVD-ROM files Deselect Use long file names (ISO 9660) if you want the DVD-ROM files to be usable under MSDOS See “Multiple File Systems on a Disc” on page 86 for more information Deselect Make DDP report if you do not want DVDit! to create a DDP (disc descriptor protocol) report on your PC 5 Select Use Windows Temporary Directory to make DVDit! use the C:\TEMP folder for temporary fi
Index Numerics movie properties 77 changing color 72 16:9 video project settings 87–90 importing 25–28 text properties 76 safe area 62 choosing 5 using in projects 82 4:3 video choosing 5 anamorphic video 5, 82 aspect ratio See scaling audio adding to menus 55 A adding to movies 43, 68 adding using in menus 51 Backgrounds button 8 bitmaps See graphics bit-rate audio 90 deleting from menus 56 video 89 audio 43, 55 deleting from movies 43 button links 40, 66–69 Dolby Digital settings 90 BM
102 Index drop shadow 74 menu color 72 menus 52 hiding links 70 menu duration 79 movies 42 highlights 71 menu name 53, 79 importing 25–28 menu properties 79 linking to chapter points 58, 67 menu soundtrack 56 chapter points 47–48 linking to media clips 40, 57 movie contents 41 DVD disc 91–93 linking to menus 60, 68 movie duration 77 DVD master 98–100 linking to movies 58, 66, 67 movie name 41, 77 DVD volume 94–95 moving 63 movie properties 77 First Play 36 scaling 64 movie soundtr
Index 103 Dolby Digital files 20 drop shadow E G effects graphics changing 74 Drop Shadow window 74 DVD disc creating 91–93 making multiple copies 84, 92 changing menu color 72 buttons 57–60 drop shadow 74 changing color 72 Enter button 12 importing 25–28 safe area 62 naming 88 F overview 84 Fast forward button 12 DVD master 85 creating 98–100 copying and pasting 65 scaling 64 supported formats 20 file naming 86 file systems I DDP report 100 ISO 9660 86, 93, 100 naming 88 Joliet 86,
104 Index chapter points 49 adding text 61 changing button thumbnails 59 discs 88 changing color 72 changing duration 77 menus 53 changing properties 79 changing properties 77 movies 41 language changing the background graphic 52 changing the soundtrack 43 changing the video or image 41 changing 14, 76 linking buttons changing the soundtrack 56 copying and pasting 42 copying and pasting 52 copying and pasting buttons and creating 39–41 to chapter points 58 to media clips 40, 57 text 65 t
Index 105 N button highlights 71 color 72, 76 naming DVD volume 96 drop shadow 74 chapter points 49 from a selected chapter point 50 menus 79 discs 88 movies 45 movies 77 DVD-ROM files 86 projects 80 project settings 87–90 menus 53 scrolling through the movie 45 text 76 movies 41 themes 24 Next button 12 setting button action 77 NTSC standard 5 O Open An Existing Project button 6 opening projects 6 themes 23 Options window 14 starting at a specific timecode 46 playhead 11, 45 Q PNG fi
106 Index S Start button 11 changing 24 safe area 62 starting DVDit! 4 stills creating 23 saving projects 6 scaling buttons and text 64 in widescreen projects 82 screen size importing files into 25–28 linking to menu buttons 40, 57, 66 naming 24 previewing 29 choosing 5 Stop button 12 safe area 62 system requirements 2 Select Theme Name window 23 Select Theme window 23 selecting buttons and text 63 DVD-ROM files 88 defined 8, 21–22 importing 25–28 opening 8, 23 thumbnail 8 changing (on bu
Index 107 V video adding chapter points 47–48 importing 25–28 linking to menu buttons 40, 57, 66 previewing 29 supported formats 20 video aspect ratio choosing 5 Video Monitor 9 video standard choosing 5 W WAVE files 20 widescreen projects 82 widescreen video 5 Windows 95 86 Z zoom buttons 11, 46
